Aircraft landing wheel rotating means



H. T. BEAN 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG.

f am wzs/w HEP III-LE1 T- BY Z I ATTORNEYS.

April 5, 1949.

AIRCRAFT LANDING WHEEL ROTATING MEANS Filed May 2, 1944 April 1949' H. T. BEAN 2,466,568

AIRCRAFT LANDING WHEEL ROTATING MEANS Filed May 2, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

Harald T. E aaT-L ATTORNEYS.

Patented Apr. 5, 1949 OFFICE AIRCRAFT LANDING WHEEL ROTATING MEANS Harold T. Bean, Santa Monica, Calif.

Application May 2, 1944, Serial No. 533,716

This invention relates to aircraft landing gear and more particularly to means for rotating the wheels of such gear.

An important object of the invention is to provide an air-driven means for rotating the landing gear wheels, or like devices, while the aircraft is in flight, so that the peripheral speed of th devices will be substantially the same as the relative aircraft and ground speed at the moment the periphery of the devices contact the landing area surface.

Another important object is to provide such air-driven, enclosed means, including a rotor portion, for the purpose described, whereby outside interference with or damage to the rotor portion will not take place.

Still another important object is to provide such an enclosed air-driven means which, including its housing, is light in weight and not cumbersome.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent during the course of the following detailed description of the invention, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and in which drawings:

Figure 1 is an end elevation of the novel wheelrotating means.

Figure 2 is a somewhat diagrammatic side elevation of the rotor portion of the wheel-rotating means of the construction.

Figure 3 is a somewhat diagrammatic view of the rotor portion and adjacent cooperating air ducts and reactor bafiies forming a part of the construction.

Figure 4 is a vertical section of the intake of the air duct housing.

Figure 5 is a section upon substantially the line 5-5 of Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a vertical section thru the assembled wheel-rotating means.

Figure '7 is a vertical section of the stationary and rotor portions of the wheel-rotating means, separated.

Figure 8 is a side elevation of a rotor bracket.

In the drawings, wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown a preferred embodiment of the invention and wherein similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, the letter A may designate generally a conventional aircraft landing gear and B the novel wheel-rotating means.

The landing gear A illustrated includes landing ear strut l0, carrying the wheel spindle ll, upon which is mounted the landing wheel assembly 12 3 Claims. (Cl. 244-103) 2 which includes a tire I3 carried by a rim l4. Also illustrated is a brake drum l5.

As for the novel wheel-rotating means B, this includes a stationary housing 20, a rotor 2| with in the housing 20, means 22 for securing the rotor 2| to the wheel assembly I2 to rotate therewith, and means 23 for securing the housing 20 to the landing gear A, preferably to the strut I0 thereof.

The stationary housing 20 includes an outer cylindrical wall portion 25, open at its inner end 26 and closed at its other end by an end wall 21 having a centrally-disposed opening 28 accommodating the spindle H and surrounded by an inner cylindrical wall 29. The housing 20 is provided with an air-intake passageway 30 and air exhaust passageway 3|, each comprising an upstanding hollow arm portion 32 and a mouth portion, the intake mouth portion 33 opening forwardly and the outlet or exhaust mouth portion 34 opening rearwardly with the horizontal axes of the two mouth portions 32 and 33 aligning and normal to the axis of rotation of the wheel assembly 12. These arm and mouth portions are somewhat similar in shape to conventional ships ventilators and, of course, the passageways 30 and 3| open into the main or cylindrical portion.

of th housing 20.

Preferably spaced inwardly of the intake mouth portion 33 are a plurality of spaced-apart substantially vertically-disposed, preferably elongated, air-director bafi'les 35 which extend from one wall of the arm portion 32 to a centrally-disposed vertical bafile 36, while air-director bafiles similar to the bailles 35 extend from the opposite wall of the arm portion 32 to the nam 36. Paralleling the vertical planes of the bafiles 35 are a number of short, vertically-disposed bafiles 31 also spaced inwardly of the mouth portion 33 arranged in rows, and secured to the walls of the 'arm portion 32 and baffle 36. It will be noted that at least the lowermost section of som of the baflles 35 and rows of bafiles 31 curve inwardly toward the central chamber 38 of the housing 20.

Extending from the end wall 21 of the housing 20 inwardly of the outer wall portion 25, are a plurality of spaced-apart, non-radially disposed, stationary baiile fins. These comprise short stationary low-pressure reactor bafile fins 40, associated shorter, low-pressure reactor baille fins 4|, two of which may be interposed between each fin 40, a plurality of preferably very short spacedapart high pressure reactor bafile fins 42 next adjacent the fins 40 and 4|, a plurality of long, suction director bafile fins and associated short,

suction director baille fins 44 in rows between adjacent fins 43, all substantially as shown in Figure 3. The end fin of the fins 43 next adjacent the last fin 42 has an arcuate extension 45, extending toward the fins 42.

At the lowermost section of the outer wall portion 25, is a sump 46 and opening 41, constituting a drain means, with the opening closed by a suitable removable closure 48.

Suitably disposed, such as at the uppermost section of the wall portion 25, is an auxiliary air intake nipple 49 having a suitable removabler closure 50 and a passageway-5| to-the-chamben 38, for a purpose later detailed.

The rotor 2| includes a ring-like support or housing 60, provided with a side fiange fl in abutment with the wheel rim and; atritsgoppoa to the :wheel assembly, I 2 to rotate therewith,-may U comprise, "cap, screws: iiextendingg through; the fiangelil andintoithe rimr| 4;

Means; 23 for ,securing thethousing to the landing gear A may comprise; abracket 15;;suitably securedasto-the strut "lli'and in turmsecuring :the housing 20,:as at-rr-the arm portions, 32. and screws 16;, extending throughwwall 721; .-into spindleqflange; 1.

From? the: foregoing,,it will be seen'that; when the: parts are assembled and 1 secured as: desired;

and the-landing gear; is extended, ,just-eprior to landin nainwill enter the ,forwardlyeopenin zintake; mouth; portion 33 and pass downthe -passageway 'w, being; guided bythe air-director.

andj'lcausing the rotor2| to spinand; con-sequently ,impa-rt' rotationto I the wheel assembly |2. The various stationary reactorwbaflle fins 40 to ,44 will prevent loss of the air current.- until it has done its impelling work, whereupon thew-air willimove up the free, passageway 3 and exhaust from themouthiiportion 34,-providing a'desirable 8.111511613101141 Manipulation of the brake; drum 5, as; is:,.- well, known; willslow the rotation; of= the wheel: assembly I 2 and, consequently; that of? the rotor?!- A-rm :portiorr: 32 is divided by battles to :provide proper distribution of air pressure' and directrrit against rotorvanes 62' and 64(Fig-ure 12) which are offsetto providelargersurface'ior thes devel-z opmentoi greater energy to overcomerthevinitial starting torque; Air: passing through :ducts .created-4by. baffles 31 develops pressure OH'VQJIGSB" and.- ducts-created bygbafile .35 -'(Fig-uresr4 andgfii develops: pressure on vanes- 62 ,(Figure- ,2): The air in the rotary portionotthe-device'hasaxradial flow after entering the. rotary'portion' :of thou-deg vice-2 The flow of: air :is: as follows :1 high :pressure air; entering through-passageway 5 .exerts: force on the high pressure. rotor vanesGTand-a counter pressure, resultingironrgstflking.bafileifins ,42 and is; then exhausted between -fins :44! and, passage,- way- 3|. Low-"pressure air, entering intaker33, passes. through ducts createdbybaiiles .35 and =31; developsifoi'ce .omrotor; .vanes 62 and 64 iaddiq tional force being created by direction of air on baflle fins 40 and 4|) thence being exhausted through suction bafile fins 43 and 44 which again create additional force on rotor vanes 62 and 64, resulting from negative pressure in passageway 3|. Baille fins 42 provide additional force against rotor vanes 61 because fins 42 create a high resistance to the air flow directed on vanes 61.

When the'air'c'raft is in. flight, and just prior to l'anding',-' the 'novel wheel rotating means B become operative, by extending the landing gear This places the air passageways 30 and 3| in the :high velocity fiow of air, causing the landing wheels l3 to rotate.

In order to make various adjustments of the landingwheel structure, after the aircraft is suitablytjackedup or suspended above the hangar floor, air under suitable pressure may be introduc'edgir'om the hangar supply, into the nipple 49, causing rotation of the wheels.

Whiley-a :desirablearrangement-Hot vanes and fins -is shown, the arrangement,- may becvariedl to provide for different landing-1 wheel sizes and other-conditions.- A

From the t-l'oregoinggit will be -seen-that there is provided a compact rassembly including-dualfunctioning pants;,w-iththe rotor vanes protected against' damage upon landing; and (the various baffle/fins so arranged thatbrakingof the -rotor 20 :1Wi1l: not cause its wanes to become :distorted nor tear loose.

What isv claimed is:-

ls In-:.combination: with an. aircraft -1anding gear assembly, includingxa r-wheel spindle and "a wheel mounted for rotation thereon, a landing gear wheel-rotating apparatus, including a: stationary housing,- defining ,a chamber-,cand airotor therein: secured, for rotation-ttc said wheel, said housing. having ,an :end-walh a-pairi of upstanding, hollow arm portions, each arm portion being providedwith aimouthrat its, upper end one-of said .armportionsthaving, an; airintake passageway-with aplurality of substantially. parallel bafll'esfl extending, :from: inwardlyl t of \the' mouth thereof toward said rotorand i being: curved toward said rotor at their lower-ends,- thel-other. of saidrarm portions 1 providing, an aireexhaust passageway, and said housing having'arpluralityrof rowsof air suction director bafile fins projecting fromsaidendwalltowardsaid-rotor'andtdisposed in substantial parallelism with the axiseofrrotation of said rotor; I andsaid :rowssbeing {non-radially disposed. with l respect 'to the axisi of rotation: of said rotor and extending rtoward 'and'closelyadjacent the inner end of the air exhausts passageewayssaidmotor' having a pluralityuof. radiallyextending vanes constructed-and:arrangedgupon rotatiomof said. rotor; to extend ito closelyradjacent the inner ends of said passagewaysi 2:. In combination-v :with; :an'-' aircraft :landing gear assembly, including a wheelspindle-and a wheel: mountedvfor rotation ,thereon, a alanding gear. wheeh-rotatingri apparatus; :includingia stat-t tionary housing, defining a chamber, andarrotor. therein secured f or rotation: to? said? wheelr; said housingghavingan end svalLza pair" ofxupstanding, hollow arnr portions; each arm 1 portionii'being provided: with a: mouth at i itseupper end,=. one ot said; armzportions -having:an air intakerpassage-t way;;-from its mouthirto said chamber/and the other or isaidrarmvportions: having an air: exhaust passageway from saidichamberwto its mouth; and said, housingi ghavin'giae pluralityrof rows of; air suction :director. baflle' fins projecting: from; said: end wallutowardsaidzrotor andFdi'sposed irrisub stantial parallelism with the axis of rotation of said rotor, and said rows being non-radially disposed with respect to the axis of rotation of said rotor and extending toward and closely adjacent the inner end of the air exhaust passageway, said rotor having a plurality of radially-extending vanes, constructed and arranged, upon rotation of said rotor, to extend to closely adjacent the inner ends of said passageways.

3. In combination with an aircraft landing gear asssembly, including a wheel spindle and a wheel mounted for rotation thereon, a landing gear wheel-rotating apparatus, including a stationary housing, defining a chamber, and a rotor therein secured for rotation to said wheel, said housing having an end wall, a pair of upstanding, hollow arm portions, each arm portion being provided with a mouth at its upper end, one of said arm portions having an air intake passageway from its mouth to said chamber and the other of said arm portions having an air exhaust passageway from said chamber to its mouth, and said housing having a plurality of air suction director baflle fins projecting from said end wall toward said rotor and disposed in substantial parallelism with the axis of rotation of said rotor, said fins comprising elongated fins alternating with rows of short fins, said rows being nonradially disposed with respect to the axis of rotation of said rotor, said elongated fins extending toward the inner end of the air exhaust passageways and said rows of fins extending toward the inner end of said exhaust passageway.

HAROLD T. BEAN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the 

